How to Go Incognito in 2026: Every Browser Explained

To go incognito, press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows or Linux) or Command + Shift + N (Mac) in Chrome, Edge or Brave. In Firefox, press Ctrl or Command + Shift + P. Incognito stops your device from saving browsing history and cookies, but it does not hide your IP address from websites, your ISP or your employer.

Last updated: October 26, 2026

Want to browse without leaving a trail on your own device? Good news: it takes about two seconds. Below, you will find the exact steps for every major browser, plus the honest truth about what private browsing does and does not protect.

What Is Incognito Mode?

Before you click anything, you need to know what you are switching on. Incognito mode (also called private browsing) is a temporary session that your browser wipes when you finish. It protects you from people who share your device. It does not protect you from the internet. That difference matters more than most guides admit.

According to Google's official help page, Chrome discards site data and cookies once you close all Incognito windows. You are also not signed in to any account by default.

In plain English, you get:

• No local browsing history
• No saved form data or leftover cookies
• A fresh, signed out session every time

How to Go Incognito on Chrome

Chrome is where most of you will start. The Incognito window works the same way everywhere, but the button hides in different spots depending on your device. Pick your device below, follow the steps, and you will see the dark "You've gone Incognito" screen.

Chrome on Windows, Mac and Linux

Here is the desktop method.

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three dots in the top right corner.
3. Select New Incognito window.

Want the lazy way? Press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Linux, or Command + Shift + N on Mac, as Google's guide explains.

Chrome on Android, iPhone and iPad

Mobile takes about three taps. The Chrome app keeps Incognito tabs separate from your normal ones, so nothing gets mixed up.

1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Tap the menu (three dots).
3. Tap New Incognito tab.

On iPhone, you can also long press the Chrome icon on your Home Screen for a one tap shortcut.

How to Go Incognito on Safari

Apple calls it Private Browsing. The name is different, but the idea is the same, and Safari's version is actually stronger than Chrome's. Apple says it also blocks known trackers, strips tracking from URLs, and adds protection against browser fingerprinting.

On iPhone:

1. Open Safari.
2. Tap the More button, then choose New Private Tab.
3. Check the address bar. If it looks dark, you are private.

On older iOS versions, tap the Tabs button and swipe to Private. On a Mac, click File, then New Private Window, or press Command + Shift + N.

How to Go Private on Firefox, Edge and Brave

Every major browser has its own private mode, and the names are annoyingly different. Here is the quick tour so you never have to search for it again.

Firefox Private Browsing

Firefox is a favorite for privacy fans. Its Private Window shows a purple mask, so you always know where you stand. Click the menu and choose New Private Window, or press Ctrl or Command + Shift + P. A neat bonus: Firefox 151 and later lets you clear your private session instantly, without closing the window.

Microsoft Edge InPrivate

Edge makes this easy. Press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows, or Command + Shift + N on Mac, and you will get a new InPrivate window. You can also pick New InPrivate window from the three dot menu.

Brave Private Window

Brave gives you a regular private window, plus an optional Tor window on desktop. But Brave openly warns that its Tor windows are just private windows using Tor as a proxy, without most of Tor Browser's protections. If your safety depends on anonymity, use the real Tor Browser. If you want to understand how proxies hide your connection, read our guide to proxy servers for AI tools.

Incognito Mode Compared Across Browsers

Here is how the five browsers stack up. Chrome calls its mode Incognito and uses Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows and Linux, or Command + Shift + N on Mac. Chrome has no tracker blocking beyond third party cookie blocking, which became a default for five years under the 2024 settlement, and it does not hide your IP address.

Safari calls its mode Private Browsing and uses Command + Shift + N on Mac. It offers built in tracker blocking plus fingerprinting protection, but it does not hide your IP address either.

Firefox calls its mode a Private Window and uses Ctrl or Command + Shift + P. It offers partial tracker protection and does not hide your IP address.

Edge calls its mode InPrivate and uses Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. Its tracker protection is limited, and it does not hide your IP address.

Brave calls its mode a Private Window and uses Ctrl + Shift + N or Command + Shift + N. Shields are on by default, and it only masks your IP address in the optional Tor window on desktop.

How to Make Incognito Faster, Locked or Permanent

Most guides stop at "open a window." If you use private mode often, a few tweaks save real time and add real privacy. Each takes under a minute.

• Always open Chrome in incognito on Windows: Right click your Chrome shortcut, open Properties, and add --incognito to the end of the Target box, as this guide explains.
• Always open Edge in InPrivate: Add -inprivate to the shortcut target, as Winaero shows.
• Lock your private tabs: On Android 11 and up, Chrome can lock Incognito tabs when you leave the app. On iPhone, Safari lets you lock Private Browsing with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.

Do you juggle several accounts or browser identities for work? A dedicated tool like Multilogin manages separate browser profiles more securely than opening one private window after another.

What Incognito Mode Does Not Hide

Here is where things get real. A lot of us treat that little spy icon like an invisibility cloak. It is not one.

Researchers who studied private browsing found that it does not stop websites from seeing your IP address. It also does not stop your school, employer or internet service provider from watching your traffic. Mozilla's myth busting page adds that private mode does not protect you from malware, and your downloads and bookmarks stay saved.

Then there is the courtroom drama. A class action lawsuit filed in 2020 claimed Google misled users about how private Incognito really was. When the terms were disclosed on April 1, 2024, Google agreed to delete billions of data records. The plaintiffs wanted $5 billion, but the settlement included no payment. Google also agreed to let Incognito users block third party cookies for five years.

Bottom line: incognito hides you from the person on your computer, not from the internet. For a wider look at protecting your data, see this complete guide to digital security and privacy and this explainer on anonymity by design in privacy first platforms.

How to Get Real Privacy Online

So what actually closes the gap? A VPN. It encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address from the sites you visit, which is exactly what incognito cannot do. Use both together, and your device stays clean while your online activity gets much harder to trace.

Free VPNs often come with strings attached, including their own tracking. That is why a reputable paid service is the safer choice. If you also use AI tools, it is worth learning how Dicloak protects your data in AI workflows.

Here is your four step plan:

1. Open a private window for local privacy.
2. Turn on a trusted VPN for IP masking and encryption.
3. Skip signing in to personal accounts.
4. Close every private window when you finish.

Incognito Mode FAQ

Got questions? Here are quick, straight answers to what people ask most.

Does incognito mode hide my IP address?

No. Websites and your ISP can still see your IP address. To hide it, you need a VPN or the Tor network.

Can my employer see my incognito history?

Yes, potentially. If you use a work network or device, your employer can monitor traffic even when your browser saves nothing locally.

Does incognito mode stop Google from tracking me?

It stops Chrome from saving your history locally. But if you sign in to any site, that site can track your activity from that moment on, per Google.

Are downloads and bookmarks saved in incognito?

Yes. Files you download and bookmarks you create stay on your device in every mode.

Is incognito mode safe from viruses?

No. Private browsing does not protect you from malware, phishing or unsafe downloads.

What is the shortcut for incognito mode?

Use Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows or Linux) or Command + Shift + N (Mac) in Chrome, Edge and Brave. Firefox uses Ctrl or Command + Shift + P.

Your Next Move

You now know how to go incognito on every major browser, and you know exactly where it falls short. Open a private window right now and try it. Then add a reputable VPN to finish the job properly. Your digital privacy is worth a few dollars a month.